[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 19 (Monday, January 30, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 4892]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-813]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Emergency Food Assistance Program; Availability of Commodities 
for Fiscal Year 2006

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the surplus and purchased commodities 
that the Department expects to make available for donation to States 
for use in providing nutrition assistance to the needy under the 
Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) in Fiscal Year (FY) 2006. The 
commodities made available under this notice must, at the discretion of 
the State, be distributed to eligible recipient agencies for use in 
preparing meals, and/or for distribution to households for home 
consumption.

DATES: Effective: October 1, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lillie Ragan, Assistant Branch Chief, 
Policy Branch, Food Distribution Division, Food and Nutrition Service, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, 
Virginia 22302-1594 or telephone (703) 305-2662.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the provisions set forth 
in the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (EFAA), 7 U.S.C. 7502, and 
the Food Stamp Act of 1977, 7 U.S.C. 2011, et seq., the Department 
makes commodities and administrative funds available to States for use 
in providing nutrition assistance to those in need through TEFAP. In 
accordance with 7 CFR 251.3(h), each State's share of TEFAP commodities 
and administrative funds is based 60 percent on the number of low-
income households within the State and 40 percent on the number of 
unemployed persons within the State. State officials are responsible 
for establishing the network through which the commodities will be used 
by eligible recipient agencies (ERAs) in providing nutrition assistance 
to those in need, and for allocating commodities and administrative 
funds among those agencies. States have full discretion in determining 
the amount of commodities that will be made available to ERAs for use 
in preparing meals, and/or for distribution to households for home 
consumption.
    The types of commodities the Department expects to make available 
to States for distribution through TEFAP in FY 2006 are described 
below.

Surplus Commodities

    Surplus commodities donated for distribution under TEFAP are 
Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) commodities purchased under the 
authority of section 416 of the Agricultural Act of 1949, 7 U.S.C. 1431 
(section 416) and commodities purchased under the surplus removal 
authority of section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935, 7 U.S.C. 612c 
(section 32). The types of commodities typically purchased in section 
416 included dairy, grains, oils, and peanut products. The types of 
commodities purchased under section 32 include meat, poultry, fish, 
vegetables, dry beans, juices, and fruits.
    In FY 2006, the Department anticipates that there will be 
sufficient quantities of fresh apples, frozen and canned asparagus, 
canned apple juice, pineapple juice, and cranberry juice concentrate, 
canned apricots, applesauce, mixed fruit, peaches, dehydrated potatoes, 
and fresh and canned sweet potatoes under section 32, to support the 
distribution of these commodities through TEFAP. Other surplus 
commodities may be made available to TEFAP later in the year. The 
Department would like to point out that commodity acquisitions are 
based on changing agricultural market conditions; therefore, the 
availability of commodities is subject to change.
    Approximately $57.7 million in surplus commodities purchased in FY 
2005 are being delivered to States in FY 2006. These commodities 
include fresh apples, frozen and canned asparagus, canned apple juice, 
pineapple juice, and cranberry juice concentrate, canned apricots, 
applesauce, mixed fruit, peaches, dehydrated potatoes, and fresh and 
canned sweet potatoes.

Purchased Commodities

    In accordance with section 27 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977, 7 
U.S.C. 2036, the Secretary is directed annually, through FY 2007, to 
purchase $140 million worth of commodities for distribution through 
TEFAP. These commodities are made available to States in addition to 
those surplus commodities which otherwise might be provided to States 
for distribution under TEFAP. However, the Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act, 2006, (Public Law 109-97) permits States to convert 
any of their entire fair share of $10 million of these funds to 
administrative funds to pay costs associated with the distribution of 
TEFAP commodities at the State and local level.
    For FY2006, the Department anticipates purchasing the following 
commodities for distribution through TEFAP: Dehydrated potatoes, corn 
syrup, egg mix, blackeye beans, great northern beans, kidney beans, 
lima beans, pinto beans, dried plums, raisins, bakery mix, lowfat 
bakery mix, egg noodles, white and yellow corn grits, macaroni, oats, 
peanut butter, rice, spaghetti, vegetable oil, rice cereal, corn 
flakes, corn squares, oat cereal, bran flakes, frozen ground beef, 
frozen chicken, frozen ham, frozen turkey roast, and the following 
canned items: Green beans, refried beans, vegetarian beans, carrots, 
cream corn, whole kernel corn, sliced potatoes, spaghetti sauce, 
tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato soup , vegetarian soup, apple juice, 
cranapple juice, grapefruit juice, orange juice, pineapple juice, 
tomato juice, apricots, peaches, pineapples, applesauce, pears, plums, 
beef, beef stew, chicken, port, tuna, turkey, and roasted peanuts. The 
amounts of each item purchased will depend on the prices the Department 
must pay, as well as the quantity of each item request by the States. 
Changes in agricultural market conditions may result in the available 
of additional types of commodities or the non-availability of one or 
more types listed above.

    Dated: January 17, 2006.
Roberto Salazar,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 06-813 Filed 1-27-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-M